Unitary separable double socket assembly



july 15 1969 I 1.,. BUSTAMANTE l 34,233

UNITARY SEPARBLE DOUBLE SOCKET ASSEMBLY Filed June 2, 1967 Ufwa f2 MMI/wlw y ATTORNEKS' United States Patent O 3,456,233 UNITARY SEPARABLE DOUBLE SOCKET ASSEMBLY Roberto L. Bustamante, 4a Calle Poniente 40, Santa Ana, El Salvador Filed .lune 2, 1967, Ser. No. 643,110 Int. Cl. Htllr 13/50; F211 7/00, 9/00 U.S. Cl. 339-154 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A separable double socket assembly made of an electrically conducting metal and provided with two socket members connected in spaced axial alignment by a pair of elongated conducting elements. The elements have abutments thereon adapted to be engaged by a spring conductor and prongs thereon which retain a non-conducting disk member that has conducting means thereon adapted to make contact with bulbs in the socket members.

This invention relates to a unitary separable double socket assembly and more specifically, to a double socket assembly, which is a modified form of the socket assembly disclosed in my Patent No. 3,226,538, issued Dec. 28, 1965, for insertion into a housing similar to the housing disclosed in my Patent No. 3,114,509, issued Dec. 17, 1963.

The socket assembly of the present invention comprises rst and second socket members provided with helical threads, bayonet slots or other suitable means for retaining a light bulb. The sockets are connected in axial alignment, with the rear portions of the sockets facing one another, by means of a pair of elongated conducting elements. The elements are each provided with a set of centrally located prongs on their inner surfaces, which retain an insulated disk provided With a conducting strip on its upper and lower surfaces. The elements are also provided with abutments on their outer surfaces which are axially spaced from the prongs. The abutments are adapted to be engaged by a spring which forces the conducting strip of the disk into Contact with a socket such as the socket disclosed in my Patent No. 3,114,509 issued Dec. 17, 1963.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a socket assembly which will serve as a substitute for a double light bulb assembly as illustrated, or similar to that illustrated, in my Patent No. 3,114,509, issued Dec. 17, 1963 and Patent No. 3,278,787, issued Oct. 1l, 1966.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive, practical double bulb unit which utilizes ordinary light bulbs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a double socket assembly which still functions with only one bulb in the assembly.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following disclosure when taken in combination with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the unitary separable double socket assembly of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the unitary separable double socket assembly taken along line 2-2 of FIG- URE l;

FIGURE 3 is a view partly in section showing the socket assembly of the present invention within a lamp assembly; and

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the socket assembly within the lamp housing taken along line 4-4 of FIG- URE 3.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the socket assembly generally lndicated by reference character 30 has rst and second socket members 31 and 32, respectively, which are adapted to receive standard light bulbs of any preferred configuration. The sockets are made up of an electrically conducting material such as copper and although, as shown, they are provided with helical threads, the sockets may be provided with bayonet slots or other suitable means for retaining the bulbs.

Sockets 31 and 32 are connected by elongated conducting elements 33 and 34, which are secured to the outer surfaces of the sockets in a manner that insures an electrical connection between the elements and the sockets. The elements serve to maintain the sockets 31 and 32 in axial alignment as well as in electrical contact with one another with the rear portions of the sockets facing one another. Of course, while as shown in FIGURE 1, the elements are soldered to the outer surfaces of the side walls of sockets 31 and 32, it is contemplated that any suitable means may be used to join the elements to the socket which will insure electrical contact between the sockets and the elements and which Will be of sufcient strength to maintain the socket in their fixed axial relation.

The elongated conducting elements 33 and 34 are each provided with a set of resilient prongs 35, 35 and 36, 36', respectively, which are centrally located on the inner surfaces of the elements 33 and 34 intermediate the rear portions of sockets 31 and 32. Each resilient prong is soldered or otherwise suitably secured at one end to element 33 or 34 and has an inturned portion 37 at the other end which cooperates with an adjacent inturned portion on the other prong Vof the set to act as a retaining means for disk 38. While this is the preferred means for retaining disk 38, it is contemplated that disk 38 could be retained between nelements 33 and 34 by other means where desired or necessitated.

Disk 38 is made of rubber, plastic or sorne other suitable insulating material and has laterally projecting portions 39 and 39 which abut elements 33 and 34, respectively, to insure that the disk is properly positioned in socket assembly 30. Disk 38 is provided with a centrally located slot 40 and a metal strip 41 which passes through and is retained by slot 40.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, strip 41 preferably extends at right angles to a plane passing through elements 33 and 34 so that strip 41 does not come in contact with elements 33 and 34. Metal strip 41 comprises a midportion 42, two intermediate portions 43, 43 and two terminal portions 44, 44. The midportion 42 of metal strip 41 extends along the upper surface of disk 38 and is folded over at each end with the two intermediate portions 43, 43 extending inwardly at an angle from the ends of the midportion 42 through Slot 40. The two intermediate portions are equal in length and meet at their inner ends adjacent the lower portion of slot 40. The two terminal portions 44, 44 of strip 41 extend outwardly from the lower end of slot 40 in the same direction as midportion 42 but on the opposite side of disk 38, whereby the conducting strip 41 extends from slot 40 on both sides of the insulated disk 38.

Although as shown, the terminal portions 44, 44 extend out farther than the midportion 42, the relative length of these members is not critical. However, terminal portions 44, 44 extend out farther than socket 32 and elements 33, 34 so that the terminal portions can make contact with a contact ring which has a greater diameter than socket 32 for reasons as will be explained hereinafter.

The elements 33 and 34 are also provided with outwardly extending abutments located on the outer surfaces of the strips. Like elements 33 and 34, abutments 46, 47 are made from a conducting material and the abutments could be either integral struck out portions of the respective elements or separate tabs which are soldered, riveted or secured to the elements by other suitable means. The abutments are axially spaced from the prongs 35 and 36 and, as shown in FIGURE 1, are located between the prongs and socket 31 for reasons that will be explained hereinafter.

As shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, the sleeve socket assembly of the present invention is adapted to be used in lamps such as the one disclosed in my Patent No. 3,114,- 509 issued Dec. 17, 1963. As illustrated, the lamp cornprises a housing 50 made of a suitable metal or plastic that is provided with a horizontally disposed window S1. A washer 52 made of insulating material is positioned Within housing 50 and is supported by the upper open end of a glass cup 53. A contact ring 54, having an inside diameter greater than the inside diameter of insulating washer 52 and an outside diameter less than the outside diameter of washer 52, is supported on washer 52 and anchored thereto by prongs which are embedded in the Washer. The washer is formed with a `radial slot 55 in which a conductor S6 is located, the conductor being suitably connected to the ring 54 and extending through an aperture S7 in the wall of the housing 50.

The unitary separable double socket assembly 30 is received within housing S0 with socket` element 32 and elongated connecting elements 33 and 34 engaging the inner surface of insulating ring 52. Ring 52 not only keeps elements 32, 33 and 34 out of contact with ring 54, but also provides a means for properly aligning the double socket assembly within the housing. Socket assembly 30 is supported on ring S4 by disk 38 which rests on ring 54 with the terminal portions 44, 44 of the conducting strip 41, which extend beyond socket element 32, in electrical contact with the ring 54. To maintain disk 38 and conducting strip 41 in engagement with the ring 54, a coil spring 58 surrounds the socket assembly with one end bearing against abutments 46 47 on elements 33, 34 while the other end bears against ange 59 of metal cup 60, which is inserted into the housing with the open edge of the cup resting on washer 52. Consequently, when the cup 60 is in place the spring 58 will urge the socket assembly 30 downwardly and the disk 38 into contact with ring 54. However, since the abut ments 46, 47 are located between the prongs and socket 31, the abutments do not contact ring 54.

A glass dome 61 closes the upper end of the housing and is held in place by a flange on the cup 60, which coacts with dome 61 as shown generally at 62. To secure cup 60 in place, the wall of the cup and the wall of the housing 50 are provided with registering apertures and a screw 63 is shown threaded into such apertures to secure the cup to the housing.

In operation, bulbs 66 and 67, which are illustrated in phantom lines in FIGURES 2 and 3, are retained in sockets 31 and 32, respectively. One electrode of each of the bulbs contacts the metal strip 41, while the other electrode of each bulb is in contact with the threaded portions of sockets 31 or 32. Therefore, the circuit is completed from a suitable source of electrical energy such as a battery, not shown, through conductor 56, ring 54 and a metal strip 41 to one electrode of each bulb, and through conductor 68, cup 60, spring 58, abutments 46, 47, elements 33, 34 and sockets 31, 32 to the other electrode. Of course, even with only one bulb in the double socket assembly 30, the circuit will still be complete and therefore, the socket assembly will function with only one bulb.

While the preferred form of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A socket assembly comprising rst and second conducting socket members, each member adapted to receive and make contact with a rst electrode of a conventional light bulb, elongated conducting elements secured to and connecting said socket members in spaced axial alignment, said elements each having a radially outwardly extending abutment thereon adapted to be engaged by a resilient spring conductor, said elements having means thereon retaining a non-conducting disk between said socket members, said disk having a conducting means thereon insulated from the elongated elements and adapted to make contact with a second electrode on each light bulb retained in the socket members.

2. The socket assembly of claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprise prongs which are located on the elongated connecting elements intermediate said socket members.

3. The socket assembly of claim 2 wherein said abutments are axially spaced from said prongs.

4, The socket assembly of claim 3 wherein said prongs are secured to inner surfaces of said elements and the abutments are secured to outer surfaces of said elements.

5. The socket assembly of claim 4 wherein said conducting means comprises a conducting strip extending at right angles to the longitudinal center line of the socket assembly on both upper and lower surfaces of said disk.

6. The socket assembly of claim 5 wherein there are two diametrically opposed elongated conducting elements connecting said socket members and wherein said conducting strip extends in a direction at substantially right angles to a plane passing through said elongated conducting elements.

7. The socket assembly of claim 6 wherein said conducting strip extends outwardly rom the longitudinal center line of the assembly and has portions extending radially beyond the socket members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,532,208 4/ 1925 Strongson 339-160 1,684,915 9/ 1928 Giles et al. 339-160 X 2,108,632 2/ 1938 Weston 339--165 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner JOHN R. MOSES, Assistant Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 24U-10.66 

